A wireless access point (AP) is a networking device that lets Wi-Fi devices join a wired network. It converts between radio signals and Ethernet frames and usually bridges them into the same network segment, without routing or assigning addresses itself.
Why it matters
Coverage is limited by walls, distance and the number of clients one radio can serve. Offices and large homes install several access points, all cabled to the switch and sharing an SSID, so devices roam between them. Using wired backhaul to each AP gives better capacity than wireless repeaters. Many APs get their power from the cable via PoE, allowing ceiling mounting without a nearby socket.
Example
A home router already has Wi-Fi built in. To extend coverage upstairs, you run a cable to a second device, put it in access point mode (its DHCP server turned off) and give it the same SSID, password and security mode as the router. Clients then connect to whichever signal is stronger.
Common mistakes
- Leaving DHCP enabled on a second router used as an AP, which causes address conflicts.
- Placing APs on the same channel next to each other, so they interfere.
- Confusing an access point with a router or a range extender.
Related
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